PROGRAM Japan
The Hidden Faith of Japan – in the footsteps of the Martyrs,
St. Maximilian Kolbe and
Our Lady of Akita
Discover the hidden Christian story of Japan – a land of martyrs, communities that preserved their faith in secret, and remarkable witnesses of hope and peace.<br> Follow the footsteps of St. Maximilian Kolbe, encounter the legacy of the Hidden Christians, and pray at the Shrine of Our Lady of Akita.<br> Along the way, experience Japan’s ancient traditions, vibrant cities and unique culture.
Tokyo – Akita – Kyoto – Nara – Osaka – Hiroshima – Miyajima – Nagasaki – Sotome
Day 1
Tokyo
Morning – Catholic Tokyo
Begin exploring Tokyo by private motorcoach. Visit St. Mary’s Cathedral, a striking landmark of modern Japanese architecture, followed by Holy Mass.
Afternoon – Tradition & Modern Tokyo
Visit Meiji Jingu, set within a peaceful forest in the heart of the city. Continue to Shibuya Crossing, an icon of contemporary Tokyo. Overnight in Tokyo.
Day 2
Tokyo
Morning – Old Tokyo
Discover Asakusa and Sensō-ji, Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple. Walk along Nakamise Street and experience the atmosphere of old Tokyo.
Afternoon – Japanese Traditions & Tokyo Views
Experience a traditional Japanese tea ceremony, an introduction to the rituals of hospitality and attention to detail. See the city from above at Tokyo Skytree, one of the world’s tallest towers. Overnight in Tokyo.
Day 3
Tokyo – Akita
Morning – Journey to Northern Japan
Travel by Shinkansen from Tokyo to Akita, watching Japan’s great cities give way to the landscapes of the north.
Afternoon – Our Lady of Akita
Visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Akita, associated with the apparitions to Sr. Agnes Sasagawa beginning in 1973. Holy Mass and time for prayer before the statue of Our Lady. Overnight in Akita.
Day 4
Akita – Kyoto
Morning – A Time for Prayer
Return to the Shrine of Our Lady of Akita for quiet prayer and time in Mary’s Garden.
Afternoon – Journey to Imperial Japan
Travel by Shinkansen via Tokyo to Kyoto, Japan’s ancient imperial capital and the heart of its traditional culture. Overnight in Kyoto.
Day 5
Kyoto
Morning – St. Francis Xavier in Kyoto
Explore Kyoto by private motorcoach, beginning at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral and the story of the Jesuit missionary who brought Christianity to Japan in 1549. Holy Mass at the cathedral
Afternoon – Imperial Kyoto
Discover Nijō Castle, once the residence of the Tokugawa shoguns, and walk through the iconic Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. Overnight in Kyoto.
Day 6
Kyoto – Nara – Osaka – Kyoto
Morning – Ancient Nara
Travel by private motorcoach to Nara, Japan’s first permanent capital. Visit Tōdai-ji, home to the monumental Great Buddha, and walk among the deer of Nara Park.
Afternoon – Osaka & the Catholic Samurai
Continue to Osaka Castle and discover the story of Blessed Justo Takayama Ukon, a Catholic samurai lord who chose exile rather than renounce his faith. End the day among the lights, street life and flavors of Dōtonbori. Return to Kyoto for overnight.
Day 7
Kyoto – Hiroshima
Morning – Journey to Hiroshima
Travel by Shinkansen to Hiroshima and continue by private motorcoach. Visit the Memorial Cathedral for World Peace, built as a symbol of remembrance, reconciliation and hope.
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Afternoon – Memory & Peace
Walk through Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and see the Atomic Bomb Dome, preserved as a witness to the destruction of 1945. Time for prayer and reflection on peace and human dignity. Overnight in Hiroshima.
Day 8
Hiroshima – Miyajima – Nagasaki
Morning – Sacred Miyajima
Travel by private motorcoach and ferry to Miyajima, one of Japan’s most celebrated sacred islands. Visit Itsukushima Shrine and its iconic torii gate rising from the sea.
Afternoon – Island Traditions & Journey South
Time to experience Miyajima’s traditional streets, temples and sacred landscape, where Japanese spirituality and nature have been intertwined for centuries. Return to Hiroshima and continue by Shinkansen to Nagasaki. Overnight in Nagasaki.
Day 9
Nagasaki
Morning – Martyrs of Japan
Explore Nagasaki by private motorcoach. Visit Nishizaka Hill, where St. Paul Miki and his companions were crucified in 1597, and the memorial to the 26 Martyrs of Japan.
Afternoon – The Living Legacy of St. Maximilian Kolbe
Visit Mugenzai no Sono – the Japanese “Niepokalanów”, founded by St. Maximilian Kolbe in 1931. Discover the monastery, Hongouchi Lourdes and the remarkable story of Seibo no Kishi – the Japanese Knight of the Immaculate, founded by Kolbe and still published today. Overnight in Nagasaki.
Day 10
Nagasaki – Sotome – Nagasaki
Morning – Land of the Hidden Christians
Travel by private motorcoach to Sotome, a remote coastal region where Christian communities preserved their faith in secret through generations of persecution. Visit Shitsu Church, built for descendants of the Hidden Christians after Christianity was once again permitted in Japan.
Afternoon – Faith Kept in Secret
Continue through Sotome’s Christian heritage and dramatic coastal landscape, discovering the story of communities that survived for more than two centuries without priests. Return to Nagasaki for overnight.
Day 11
Nagasaki
Morning – The Hidden Faith Revealed
Visit Ōura Cathedral, where descendants of Japan’s Hidden Christians revealed their faith to a French missionary in 1865, after more than two centuries without priests. Continue exploring Nagasaki by private motorcoach.
Afternoon – Takashi Nagai: Faith & Peace
Visit Urakami Cathedral, rebuilt after the atomic bombing, and the Takashi Nagai Memorial Museum, dedicated to the Catholic physician whose life became a witness of faith, forgiveness and peace. Overnight in Nagasaki.
Day 12
Nagasaki
Morning – Nagasaki Across Cultures
Explore Nagasaki by private motorcoach and visit Glover Garden, overlooking the harbor and telling the story of the city’s centuries-old encounter with the outside world.
Afternoon – A Pilgrimage Completed
Time for Holy Mass and a final moment together before departure. Depending on the group’s flight arrangements, the pilgrimage may conclude in Nagasaki or continue to Tokyo for the journey home.
Day 13
Nagasaki – Departure
Departure – Journey Home
Transfer by private motorcoach to Nagasaki Airport. Depart for the United States, with connecting flights arranged according to the best available itinerary.
Make This Pilgrimage Your Own
This is a sample itinerary. Your pilgrimage can be shaped around your group’s spiritual focus, pace and available time – from deeper exploration of Christian Nagasaki to Mount Fuji, the Samurai heritage of Japan or additional days in Tokyo and Kyoto.
Departure arrangements can also be tailored to the most convenient international flight connections for your group.
Make This Pilgrimage Your Own
This is a sample itinerary. Your pilgrimage can be shaped around your group’s spiritual focus, pace and available time – from deeper exploration of Christian Nagasaki to Mount Fuji, the Samurai heritage of Japan or additional days in Tokyo and Kyoto.
Departure arrangements can also be tailored to the most convenient international flight connections for your group.